Adams dropped out of high school at age 16 to work in a shoe shop and make music. He formed a band named Whiskeytown in 1994; they disbanded in 1999 having released two full albums, Faithless Street and Strangers Almanac. Adams went on to put out his first solo record, Heartbreaker, in 2000. After a long delay, in 2001 Whiskeytown's third album Pneumonia was finally issued.
In 2002, Ryan contributed backing vocals on Butterfly in Reverse, from the Counting Crows album, Hard Candy; after Adam Duritz (Counting Crows lead singer) appeared on the album Gold.
Ryan is highly prolific, and in 2005 released one double album and two regular albums: Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights and 29, respectively. His album, 29, was produced by friend Ethan Johns (who also produced his first two albums, Heartbreaker and Gold). In between those two releases and his 2005 triple-header, Ryan released Demolition (a collection of out-takes), Love Is Hell and Rock N Roll. Unreleased studio albums include 48 Hours, Exile On Franklin Street and Suicide Handbook.
In addition, Adams worked with Jesse Malin to form the punk-rock group The Finger (under the pseudonyms, "Warren Peace" and "Irving Plaza" respectively), who released two E.P.s which were collected together to form We Are Fuck You, released on One Little Indian Records in 2003.
In 2006 Ryan went on a minor UK-tour and a minor US-tour along the west-coast and has streamed 11+ mini albums on his website, under numerous jokey pseudonyms (DJ Reggie, Werewolph, The Shit, Rhoda Ro, Ghetto Birds).
The following solo record, entitled Easy Tiger, was released on June 26, 2007. The newest and last record with his backing band The Cardinals, Cardinology, was released in October 2008 and followed by extensive touring through the UK, US and Australia.
In January 2009 he announced that he would be going on an indefinite hiatus from music. The Kindness Songfacts reports that the major reason for Adams’ temporary retirement was his struggles with Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that wrecks havoc on hearing and balance. Adams resumed performing in October 2010, and released his thirteenth studio album, Ashes & Fire, on October 11, 2011. His now ex-wife, pop singer and actress Mandy Moore, contributed some backing vocals.
Am I Safe
Ryan Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyone and everything I left behind
Standing in the cold great dark
Watching cars go by
And all these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?
Every day my heart seems like a stone
Carries me away into the undertone
At the bottom, there's no air, there's no sound, no light
And all these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?
If I don't wanna be with you
Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?
If I don't wanna be with you
On my way back on my sea of heart over
Close my eyes, but if it wasn't mine
It's complicated, I just don't love you anymore
I just wanna sit here and watch it burn
Sit and watch it burn
Sitting look at someone through the world
Running from myself like when I was ejected
Pictures in on the wall, when we used to smile
All these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?
If I don't wanna be with you
Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?
If I don't wanna be with you
If I don't wanna be with you
In Ryan Adams's song "Am I Safe," the singer presents a stream of consciousness, as he is tormented by his own thoughts about leaving behind everything and everyone. He stands in the cold, watching cars pass by, indicating his isolation from the world around him. The repetition of the lines "Am I safe?" acts as a motif throughout the song, highlighting the singer's anxiety, further emphasizing the theme of isolation. The singer's heart becomes a stone leading him to the undertone of the bottom with no air, no sound, and no light. He feels trapped in his thoughts with no escape, leading him to question his own safety.
In the latter half of the song, the singer explains his complicated feelings towards his former lover, indicating that he does not love them anymore, and he wants to watch everything burn. He also describes himself as "Running from myself, like when I was ejected." This line suggests that he is currently on the run from himself, similarly to how he used to run away from problems when he was young. The song ends on the same note, with the singer asking if he is safe if he does not want to be with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
All these things keep running through my mind
The singer finds themselves constantly thinking about the memories and people they have left behind.
Everyone and everything I left behind
The singer is haunted by memories of everyone and everything they left behind.
Standing in the cold great dark
The singer feels alone and isolated.
Watching cars go by
The artist is a passive observer of the world around them.
And all these things keep running through my mind
The memories and thoughts are never-ending and seem to dominate the artist's every waking moment.
Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe? Am I safe?
The singer is questioning their own safety, whether physical or emotional.
If I don't wanna be with you
The singer is questioning whether they are safe if they don't want to be with someone anymore.
Every day my heart seems like a stone
The artist's heart feels heavy and weighed down.
Carries me away into the undertone
The artist feels like their emotions are taking them down into a dark place.
At the bottom, there's no air, there's no sound, no light
The artist feels like they are in a state of suffocation and darkness.
On my way back on my sea of heart over
The singer is on a journey back to their emotions.
Close my eyes, but if it wasn't mine
The artist is trying to disconnect from their emotions and find some distance.
It's complicated, I just don't love you anymore
The singer is in a complicated emotional state and no longer feels love for the person mentioned.
I just wanna sit here and watch it burn
The singer wants to watch everything from a distance and let it all fall apart.
Sitting look at someone through the world
The singer feels disconnected from the world around them and is observing it from a distance.
Running from myself like when I was ejected
The artist is trying to escape their emotions and memories.
Pictures in on the wall, when we used to smile
The artist remembers a time when things were better and they were happy.
If I don't wanna be with you
The singer is questioning whether they are safe if they don't want to be with someone anymore.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alinne Alencar
All these things keep running through my mind
Everyone and everything I left behind
Standing in the cold great dark
Watching cars go by
And all these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe?
If I don't wanna be with you
Every day my part seems like a stone
Carries me away into the undertone
Like a bottom, there's no air
There's no sound, no light
And all these things keep running
Through my mindAm I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with you
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with youOn my way back on my sea of part over
Close my eyes
What if there was nothing
It's complicated
I just don't love you anymore
I just wanna sit here and watch it burn
Sit and watch it burn
Sitting look at someone through the world
Running from myself like when I was in???
Pictures in on the wall, when we used to smile
All these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with you
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with you
If I don't wanna be with you
Alinne Alencar
All these things keep running through my mind
Everyone and everything I left behind
Standing in the cold great dark
Watching cars go by
And all these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe?
If I don't wanna be with you
Every day my part seems like a stone
Carries me away into the undertone
Like a bottom, there's no air
There's no sound, no light
And all these things keep running
Through my mindAm I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with you
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with youOn my way back on my sea of part over
Close my eyes
What if there was nothing
It's complicated
I just don't love you anymore
I just wanna sit here and watch it burn
Sit and watch it burn
Sitting look at someone through the world
Running from myself like when I was in???
Pictures in on the wall, when we used to smile
All these things keep running
Through my mind
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with you
Am I safe? Am I safe?
Am I safe? If I don't wanna be with you
If I don't wanna be with you
TNT Amusements Inc
Ryan, this is terrific...it's sure to be a hit!
James F Evers
Best song I've heard in a while... very good...
Félix Velasco
Wow!!!. Una cancion realmente estupenda
Jamie Redmond
All these things keep runnin through my mind..love you Ryan
giovanni cuevas
Ryan Adams is a sneak with his glorious music
cameron demarco
One of the last great artists
NolalanD
Creedence rhythm thru Johnny Marr's prism
Formago
i dont feel safe
Ron Belin
whom would have thought..?